Malik Willis’ name is coming up with the Pittsburgh Steelers again. Odds are out on Ben Roethlisberger’s chances to make the Hall of Fame next year.

We know where Tiger Woods’ son will be golfing in college. The American women’s hockey team at the Olympics stays red hot. And the Duquesne women’s basketball team hosts an annual tradition this morning.

All that in “First Call” for Wednesday.

More on Malik

Two weeks ago, Steelers Nation Radio host Matt Williamson told me that the Steelers would be wise to entertain the idea of signing Green Bay quarterback Malik Willis.

Now, Jason La Canfora of 105.7 The Fan in Baltimore is claiming the Steelers are one of three teams expected to pursue Willis in free agency. Their interest now may only be if Aaron Rodgers doesn’t return.

“Teams, including the Steelers, Browns, and Dolphins are interested. Speculation suggests a deal similar to Justin Fields’ (two years, $40 million) could be in the cards,” La Canfora wrote for Sportsboom.com.

Willis has been in the NFL for four years, two with Tennessee and two with Green Bay. During the past two years with the Packers, he has played in 11 games and started three. In those games, he has thrown for 972 yards, six touchdowns, no interceptions and has completed 78% of his passes.

The Steelers were believed to have some interest in him coming out of Liberty in the 2022 draft before selecting Kenny Pickett. Thw

La Canfora, formerly of CBS Sports, added, “While at least four teams are expected to express interest in the free-agent quarterback, including the Steelers, there is already growing buzz in the industry that the Browns and Dolphins are particularly keen on the emerging talent.”

That said, the Browns have Shedeur Sanders, and Cleveland.com is reporting that new coach Todd Monken is “intrigued” at the idea of giving Deshaun Watson a chance to regain the starting job there now that he has recovering from his torn achilles tendon and “eager” to work with him.

Down the road to Canton

As discovered over at TheDraftNetwork.com, odds are out on who might make the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a first-time nominee in 2027.

Ex-Steelers Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown, Le’Veon Bell and Joe Haden are all on the list. But Brown appears to be a long shot, and Bell isn’t even on the board. Neither is Haden.

At plus-140, I think Roethlisberger might be a wise bet. Obviously, that’s indicating he’s not a lock. The suggestion appears to be that Rob Gronkowski and Adrian Peterson are.

But in the end, as a quarterback, I think Roethlisberger’s career highlights will be too hard to pass up.

Tiger’s son to Tallahassee

Charlie Woods, the son of PGA legend Tiger Woods, has chosen an ACC school as a place to play golf for his college career starting in 2027.

Charlie has decided to enroll at Florida State, according to ESPN.com. The Seminoles were second in the NCAA in 2024. FSU also landed the sport’s No. 1 recruit, Miles Russell of Jacksonville.

Woods is 21st in the Rolex American Junior Golf Association rankings.

Tiger Woods played two years of college golf at Stanford before turning pro in August 1996. His daughter, Sam, is a freshman there.

Five-time major champion Brooks Koepka and PGA Tour member Daniel Berger are FSU alumni.

 

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Woah, Canada!

The American women’s hockey team enjoyed a 5-0 shutout of rival Canada in preliminary-round play at the Olympics on Tuesday.

Hannah Bilka scored twice. University of Wisconsin product Caroline Harvey had a goal and two assists.

Wisconsin teammates Laila Edwards and Kirsten Simms also scored. University of Minnesota captain Abbey Murphy had three assists.

The U.S. extended its win streak over Canada to seven straight meetings. That includes a four-game sweep of an exhibition pre-Olympic Rivalry Series.

Team USA has clinched first place in Group A entering the quarterfinals. That game is against Italy on Friday (3:10 p.m.). The group won its first four games by a combined score of 20-1.

Goalie Aerin Frankel put up a 20-save shutout. The other two goaltenders, Gwyneth Philips (Shady Side Academy) and Ava McNaughton (Seven Fields), played for Pens Elite. They both participated in a 5-0 shutout of Switzerland on Monday.

Rise and shine

The Duquesne women’s basketball team is hosting its annual Education Day game at 11 a.m. Wednesday. Approximately 20 schools are expected to bring kids to the UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse for the event.

Admission is free. All non-school day participants will be directed to the third-level Club Lounge area. Last year’s game, a 74-48 win over St. Bonaventure, drew 3,115 fans.

Loyola Chicago is the opponent for this year’s game. Leading scorer Alexis Bordas’s entire grade school is coming from Wheeling.

The Dukes (7-16, 0-12) are hoping to snap a 12-game losing streak and win their first Atlantic 10 game. The Ramblers are 12-11 and in fourth place in the A-10 at 8-4.